Building Alliances & Smoothing the Path

To

Better Patient SafetyPatty Skolnik, Exec. Director

Citizens for Patient Safety

Pat Mastors, FounderPear Health

Take-aways:

1. Learn how allies can be embraced toimprove patient safety

2. Learn how environments can be embracedto improve patient safety

3. Learn from each other

Our son, Michael Skolnik

VIDEO -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XLTN8dvffo&list=UUXyNo68qfPLKQQ2e86i-GCg&index=3

Finding Unexpected Allies

“…getting past theCulture of Silence –the tendency ofmedical insiders todefend each otherand shield the patientfrom importantinformation.”

The Sandbox

How do you get what you want?

Rep. Morgan Carroll: “…Patty found champions in theColorado medical society, in the state’s largest malpractice carrier, and

with legislators on both sides of the aisle.”

“Playing nice”

• It broadens your perspective• You might make unexpected allies• Be open, transparent, and agree to disagree• Invite yourself to the dance• Don’t just think of yourself

What roadblocks do you face?How can you smooth them?

My Dad, Bob Stegeman

one  of

100,000deaths  each

year

Hospital-Acquired Infections:What do patients know?

52% 65%30%

#1

Doctors  don’tclean  hands

between  pa2ents

Carry  C.  diffspores

Wasn’t  washedin  a  week

Ranked“Germiest”  object

in  room

LeA  dirty  fornext  pa2ent

Doctors’  Neck2escontaminated

Purse  boGoms  carryFecal  bacteria

50%

50% 50%

How does the patient clean their hands?

Where does the patient put their stuff?

How does the patient rememberinstructions and discharge stuff?

How can caregivers “see us”?

Mistakes are inevitable

How Can Patients Help?

We can help with the Swiss Cheese

We Can Help Here Too

Patients can“Smooth the path” for mousetraps,

and“Block the holes” in the Swiss cheese

“Always” Event:Smooth the path

(Raise a concern- red flag--infection)

“Never” Event:Block the holes - ask when

you don’t understand

Carrots & Sticks:

It’s about being human.People want to do the right thing

Make it easier for them to do it.Q: What barriers are you facing???

Patty Skolnik, Citizens for Patient Safetywww.citizensforpatientsafety.orgPatty@citizensforpatientsafety.org

Pat Mastors, Pear Healthwww.thepatientpod.comPmastors@thepatientpod.com